Right now, we are in the middle of the year’s best time to travel. Not only because of autumn’s especially rich and vibrant colors in certain parts of the country, but this is when the weather is generally pleasant everywhere and prices for airfare and hotels are less than they were over summer or will be during the holidays. To inspire your exploration, some insanely cool new properties opened this summer across the country. We’re talking about a retro motel in the Arizona high desert, a surf club in Maine and many more. No matter what part of the country you’re checking out this fall, you can probably be the first among your friends to stay somewhere that inspires them too.
Flagstaff, Ariz.
The summer’s coolest new restored motel feels like something out of a Wes Anderson movie, where brown wood walls are filled with bright, ’70s-inspired colors and starry tributes to outer space. The Americana’s two stories are filled with little hidden homages to its location on Route 66 and the high desert landscape that surrounds it, the kind of hotel where you’ll look down in the lobby and notice the floor pattern looks a little like the mountains. The rooms are small, but comfortable, and while they look like they might have 50 years ago, everything inside is decidedly modern. As a true road-trip oasis, the Americana offers a spacious backyard to unwind and mingle with other travelers. Its pool is heated year-round, and sits next to cornhole sets, a s’mores-ready firepit and a bocce ball court.
Brooklyn, N.Y.
The artsy Arlo brand takes over the old Williamsburg Hotel, transforming it from a basic neighborhood property into a sea of creative expression. The headline-grabbing addition is a giant mural from L.A.-based graffiti master Ryan Wilson, whose “Subtle Reminders” sits just below the popular Water Tower bar. The Arlo also boasts an incredible rooftop pool, where the 10,000-square-foot deck has 360-degree views of Brooklyn and the Manhattan skyline. If heights aren’t your thing, you can still grab a drink at the lobby bar, where hardwood floors and exposed brick fuse with more graffiti art to make the place feel distinctly Brooklyn.
Boise, Idaho
Way back in 1910, the Manitou Hotel opened along Boise’s bustling Main Street, giving guests what it claimed to be the world’s biggest and best moving picture theater. In the 113 years since, it’s been everything from a boxing arena to a blues club, but this summer it finally got back to its roots as a refined, 39-room boutique hotel. Rooms are a picture of retro luxury, with brass fixtures, white tile bathrooms and green plush furniture. On the ground floor you’ll find Avery, a French brasserie with an antique bar, helmed by Rye Williamsburg’s Cal Elliott. Slightly hidden behind the hotel is Tiner’s Alley, a brick-walled tavern that pays tribute to the underground fights that once took place inside.
Detroit, Mich.
If you’ve been making Detroit the punchline of your jokes about urban decay, you clearly haven’t been in a while. The Motor City is America’s hotbed of purposeful reuse, the latest example being this hotel set inside the Walker-Roehrig Building, once home of WWJ-AM. The lobby and ground-floor entry have been restored to the Art Deco splendor of Detroit’s golden era, and the hallways are filled with historic photographs explaining the building’s important role in Detroit history. The lobby opens into Beve Bar, a posh cocktail lounge with a football-field-sized patio outside. On the ground floor you’ll find the Detroit Taco Co. Bodega, where you can scoop up breakfast tacos in the morning and carne asada specialties by night.
San Diego, Calif.
Once upon a time, entrepreneur Larry Imig opened this two-story colonial gem spread over two and a half acres as a getaway for the Hollywood elite. The hotel’s first major restoration brings us back to those glory days of 1946, where everything from the towering entryway to the colorful rooms oozes early-century over-the-top elegance. Even the base rooms at the Lafayette are done up in ornate wallpaper depicting San Diego’s history, with bright red carpets and pastel tiles. Suites boast four-post beds and claw tubs, and every room comes with a custom cocktail setup. You’ll find a throwback two-lane bowling alley in the basement at The Gutter, and a tribute to the Gaslamp District in the sexy speakeasy lobby bar. The Lafayette also offers two restaurants — the homey Beginners Diner and the Oaxacan-inspired Quixote.
Louisville, Ky.
There are a lot of repurposed hotels in America in spaces used for a lot of things, but we’re pretty sure this new Louisville boutique is the only one inside an old disco ball factory. In case you weren’t aware, a literal sea of disco balls hangs from the lobby ceiling, and the mirrored-sphere theme continues in décor throughout the property. But, make no mistake, the Myriad isn’t a -70s theme hotel, as rooms are designed with Scandinavian sensibility with long, low lines and exposed wooden beams. Guests can also take advantage of sunny days at the hotel’s swim club, complete with daybeds and bar. The Myriad offers two restaurants as well — the wood-fired Paseo and work-friendly Switchboard bar and café.
Romer Waikīkī at the Ambassador
Honolulu, Hawaii
The staid old Ambassador hotel along Honolulu’s iconic Waikīkī beach got a long-needed new life this summer, reopening as the Romer with 368 fully redone rooms. The new spot is a sea of light hues and pink pastels, where even the narrow bunk bed rooms offer alluring views of the ocean and city skyline. Most rooms come with balconies, where you can step out and listen to the crashing surf while basking in the Hawaiian sun. The pool deck brings a similar feeling of modern tropical relaxation, where guests can order cocktails from pinstriped daybeds or while lounging under a swaying palm. The Romer will also welcome 2024 with an open-air restaurant that keeps guests immersed in the alluring island air.
Tempo by Hilton New York Times Square
New York, N.Y.
The summer’s coolest new behemoth sits inside the sparkling TSX Broadway Tower, a 661-room lifestyle hotel from Hilton’s new Tempo brand. In addition to sitting walking distance from literally everything a Manhattan visitor would want, the property offers floor-to-ceiling windows in every room to give guests a true sense of place. The surprisingly large fitness center is decked out with cables, weights and Peloton bikes, if you can’t go a week without a Saturday 60. Bathrooms are also immense by NYC standards, where you’ll be able to spread your stuff out among pure white tiles and enjoy the Apotheke amenities.
New York, N.Y.
Famed midcentury architect Morris Lapidus is generally associated with Miami Beach, and maybe San Juan, Puerto Rico, if you really know your architecture. But Hell’s Kitchen? One of his lesser-known projects was this building along Eighth Avenue (hence, Theta), which has been redesigned as Kimpton’s latest NYC boutique. You’ll find the soft arches and open spaces that became Lapidus’ trademark throughout, as well as midcentury-modern design and pops of natural colors. For the daring, the Theta offers free loaner bikes to brave the Manhattan streets. And you can fuel up for your adventure at Café Otto, pouring drinks from local roasters Afficionado Coffee.
York, Maine
If you’re not from New England, you probably don’t immediately think of Maine as the Oahu of the northeast. But spend a weekend at this 52-room restored gem along the coast and you’ll be immersed in Maine surf culture. The latest iteration of the Surf Club comes to us from Taylor Perkins, son of Maine surf legend Sonny Perkins, and offers surf lessons and views of the breaks from its saltwater pool. The design is Scandinavian, with long lines and light woods dominating the common areas, rooms and two-room bungalows. You can also enjoy a meal anytime at the Pineapple All Day Café, where the requisite lobster rolls are joined by surf-inspired classics like blackened tuna tacos and grilled shrimp with cucumber.
